The complexity of tobacco smoke-induced mutagenesis in head and neck cancer.

ABSTRACT: Tobacco smoke, alone or combined with alcohol, is the predominant cause of head and neck cancer (HNC). We explore how tobacco exposure contributes to cancer development by mutational signature analysis of 265 whole-genome sequenced HNC samples from eight countries. Six tobacco-associated mutational signatures were detected, including some not previously reported. Differences in HNC incidence between countries corresponded with differences in mutation burdens of tobacco-associated signatures, consistent with the dominant role of tobacco in HNC causation. Differences were found in the burden of tobacco-associated signatures between anatomical subsites, suggesting that tissue-specific factors modulate mutagenesis. We identified an association between tobacco smoking and alcohol-related signat

SUBMITTER: Torrens L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11985354 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature